every couple of seconds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every couple of seconds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that occurs repeatedly at short intervals. Example: "The lights flickered every couple of seconds during the storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

LOL!" to nobody in particular every couple of seconds.

The Guardian - Music

Casimir's body temperature was indeed fluctuating, little tiny blue spikes every couple of seconds.

The New Yorker

He covered and uncovered the chocolate every couple of seconds, lifting and looking.

The New Yorker

"Parking that number of cars in the rain, even as fast as one every couple of seconds takes two hours.

The Guardian

Instead, they asked a subject to repeat his answer dozens of times while the researchers took brain scans every couple of seconds.

The New Yorker

There's a heady whiff of mincemeat in the air and an ear-deafening clank every couple of seconds as pastry lids are pushed down with a metal mould.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The earth is continuously vibrating, although at extremely low frequencies (on the order of once every couple of hundred seconds or so) and amplitudes.

The New York Times - Science

"If you've been having it for several years every couple of months, first of all, you've spent a lot of money," said Dr. McGuire, who injects Botox and Dysport.

The New York Times

It was as though he was releasing a new version of himself daily, with a major release every couple of months: The first smile — a killer feature!

TechCrunch

Every couple of weeks, on those first few days, I get the thumbs-up likes which to me (and face it, to all of us on FB) is applause.

Huffington Post

Some investigators only perform one dilatation, 8 others perform several dilatations with incremental diameter of the balloon, or one dilatation at baseline and every couple of weeks after the first dilatation re-dilatation until clinical remission is achieved.

Gut

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or events with frequent, short repetitions, use "every couple of seconds" to provide a sense of immediacy and rhythm.

Common error

While "every couple of seconds" is useful, overuse can make your writing monotonous. Vary your descriptions by using alternatives like "frequently", "repeatedly", or more specific time intervals when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every couple of seconds" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate frequency. According to Ludwig, it describes how often an action occurs, specifying a short, repeated interval.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

25%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "every couple of seconds" functions as an adverbial phrase to indicate actions occurring at short, regular intervals. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts. While versatile, it's important to use this phrase judiciously, considering alternatives to avoid monotony. As shown by the examples Ludwig provides, it's common in news, media, and even technical writing to convey the repetition or urgency of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every few moments

Uses 'moments' as a slightly more vague but similar measure of time, implying short but indefinite intervals.

at regular short intervals

Stresses the consistent spacing of the intervals, ensuring a predictable timing of events.

at frequent intervals

Emphasizes the regularity and closeness of the intervals, focusing on the repeated nature of the occurrence.

periodically at close range

Highlights the periodic nature and the closeness in time between the occurrences.

in quick succession

Highlights the speed and nearness of the occurrences, suggesting events happening one after another rapidly.

repeatedly in short bursts

Focuses on the episodic nature of the occurrences, happening again and again in brief periods.

at brief recurrent periods

Highlights both the brevity and the recurring nature of the periods between events.

on a near-constant basis

Indicates that the action or event occurs very frequently, almost without interruption.

like clockwork

Implies a precise and regular timing of the occurrences, similar to the mechanism of a clock.

every now and then

Suggests the action happens from time to time, with a lesser degree of accuracy than 'every couple of seconds'.

FAQs

How can I use "every couple of seconds" in a sentence?

You can use "every couple of seconds" to describe an action or event that occurs repeatedly at short intervals. For example, "The notification light blinked "every couple of seconds"."

What can I say instead of "every couple of seconds"?

You can use alternatives like "every few seconds", "frequently", or "repeatedly" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "every couple seconds" without the 'of'?

While understandable, "every couple seconds" is less formal and grammatically standard than "every couple of seconds". The inclusion of 'of' makes the phrase more precise and widely accepted in formal writing.

What's the difference between "every couple of seconds" and "every few seconds"?

The phrase ""every couple of seconds"" implies a slightly more precise and shorter interval than "every few seconds", which is more general and less specific about the exact duration.